Sports Redux: The Mighty Mighty Royals

If you skipped over NESN on Monday night, confident in the outcome of a Red Sox-Royals matchup in Kansas City, you weren't alone. Many people surely thought that it was going to be relatively easy for Tim Wakefield to get back on track with a return to the mound in Missouri. Why not catch a few winks and rest up as best as possible for the Yankees series this weekend?

Because this is Red Sox baseball, people, and there are no guarantees. Proving how unpredictable the game can be, the Sox fell to the Royals, 12-9, in a sloppy matchup that left our bullpen showing its vulnerability (cough cough DELCARMEN cough) and the night's rain-soaked starter (5 innings, 5 hits, 5 runs, 7 walks, 2 strikeouts) decidedly pissed off. "It’s brutal," said Wake. "Gave the game away, bottom line." Wake's spot in the rotation is no more, which makes us wonder if his retirement actually won't come as we'd all expected: the moment his arm falls off on the mound. The man is a dirt dog - that's why we love him.

It wasn't all bad news, however. Jason Bay hit his 36th homer of the season (off Lenny DiNardo, no less - three cheers for Sox alumni), which is a new career high for the left fielder. So there's that, at least. And with the Angels beating the Yanks, 5-2, on Monday, New York's division lead remains five games.

Also out of the picture is Junichi Tazawa, whose groin injury landed him a spot on the 60-day DL. All we're going to say is that we can't wait to have this guy back next year.

The Pats were still tending to their wounds on Monday, a state that left Bill Belichick far snippier than he tends to be. A knock on defensive communication last season left many wondering if he was calling out Mike Vrabel, the former NE Patriot who last year wore the helmet with coach-to-player communication technology. Belichick's appearance on WEEI did little to clear up the confusion. If it looks like a knock, if it stings like a knock...

The Bruins are on the road for pre-season play against the Blue Jackets tonight. Andrew Ference, who has been sidelined since groin surgery three months ago, will be dressing for his first game this year.